As the final hooter sounded and the winners celebrated with the small pocket of travelling fans, there was a firm reminder in that moment of why the Challenge Cup still matters. Genuine upsets have been few and far between in recent years, but when Oldham’s players return to their day jobs, they will be celebrated as heroes.
Last year’s finalists, Hull Kingston Rovers, had crashed out at their first hurdle to part-time opposition, but that should not overshadow a wonderful afternoon for the visitors – a side who have struggled to get to grips with life in the Championship, let alone competing against Super League sides.
But here, the Roughyeds, who were 40-point underdogs, had too much class for a KR side who looked worryingly short of ideas and, perhaps even more worryingly, passion. The six tries Oldham scored were of supreme quality as they moved into the last 16 of the competition, where they could meet one of Super League’s top sides.
“For me, as a coach, that’s as good as it gets,” said Oldham’s Scott Naylor, a winner of the Cup as a player with Bradford. “We’re not a wealthy club and days like these and getting in the next round helps the club massively in a financial sense.”
For Hull KR, in the bottom four of Super League, their season took another horrendous turn for the worse. “It’s probably the biggest embarrassment of my career, full stop,” said their coach, James Webster. “I’ve protected this group since I came here, but I have to apologise to everyone as that’s not the level required for the kind of wages these guys pick up.”
Neil Hudgell, the Hull KR chairman, was even more damning. On Twitter he said: “Apologies are not enough, actions have to trump words. Too many cheap words by too many people who haven’t bought into what we are trying to deliver. We have dishonest people in the club, and they will be smoked out.”
Oldham led 24-6 at the interval after a half of near-complete dominance with tries for Will Hope, Richard Lepori, Steve Roper and Adam Clay.
Dane Tilse’s try was all the hosts could muster in that half, but as the fitness of Oldham began to wane, Rovers began to mount a comeback. Tilse’s second and a well-worked effort from Shaun Lunt put them within touching distance, but Gary Middlehurst’s reply always felt pivotal.
Maurice Blair and Joe Wardill set up a nervy finish with late tries, but it was not enough to deny a remarkable upset and Oldham can now look forward of a glamour tie in Thursday’s draw by John Humphreys and Martin Offiah in the unlikely setting of Radio 4’s Today studio.
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